Signal and spot light for automobiles



H. W. BROWN.

SIGNAL AND SPOT LIGHT FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLlcAloN FILED APR.r 1s, 1919. 1,335,364. Patented Mar. 30, 1920..

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

INVENT 3Rj WITN ESSES Mama( BY A/ l l f ATTORN EY H. W. BROWN.

SIGNAL ANDSPOT LIGHT FOR AUTOMOBILES. APPLICATION FILED APR.16, 1919.

1,835,364. Pand 1121.130, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2 f 5 1 E 5 c. s

s. s E i ATTORN EY H. W. BROWN.

SIGNAL AND SPOT LIGHT FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED APR. I6, I9l9. I

` Patented Mar. 30, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

WITNESSES ATTORNEY l ,of the forward vehicle.

UNITED STATES' PALrENT orFIoE.:

HEnia'Enr wianowN, or ASHLAIJ, oHIo.

' SIGNAL AND sro'r LIGHT For. AUTOMOBILES.

' Specincatio'n of Lettersflatent; Patented Mar. 31), 1920.

Application' :nea April 16, 191e. serial No. 290,478.

To all whomz't mag/ concern;

Be it known that I, HERBERT BROWN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Ashland, in the county, of Ashland, and State of Ohio, haveyinvented a new and useful Signal and Spot Light for Automobiles, of.

which the following is-a specification. f

.This invention has reference to signal and spot-lights for automobiles,and its object is to provide a compact and eficientlight. applicable todifferent parts ofthe automobile to serve'asfa 'spot-light, or as Aatail light,or as both, andlwhich may be caused to produce a directionsignal visible tothe. 15

operator of a following vehicle and apprising such operator as to theintended course The invention is capable of use asa direction signal,either alone or in conjunctionwith a spot-light of which it may formapart.

The invention comprises a suitable cas-.-

ing in which electric lamps maybe housed so as to provide lightsourcescapable of individual energization in order to illuminate certain parts`of the signal means, either separately or simultaneously, whereby toconstitute avdanger signal .or direction signal in accordance with thearrangement of illumination. The invention may be utilized l one casingand may beV located in the simply as a tail iight, or, by a changein theillumination, indicate thatv the vehicle is about to turn to one side orthe other.' The invention is'capable of associatlon vwltha spot-light sothat both the spot-light and the direction signaling means may be withinl n position usually occupied by a spot-light, that is, adjacent to theoperators seat of the vehicle. In such event the spot-light part of thedevice may be operated in the usual manner and for the customarypurpose, and,

at the same time, an operator of a following vehicle is apprised of theintended courseof this specification, with the understanding, however,that theinventioni is not confined to any strict conformity with theshowing Y of the drawings, .but may `be changed and lmodified so long assuch 'changesand'm'odiications mark nov material departure `from vthesalient features of the invention as eX.- pressed in theappendedpclaims. y

4`In the drawings Figure 1 is a rear elevation of a portion of anautomobile vwith the invention applied to the rearwheel guard. y

Fig. 2 is asimilar rear elevation with the Y invention vapplied to thelextra tire holder. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation ofan automobile with theinvention. in the form of a spotlight and direction signal.

Figi/1 is an elevation of a structurev emi y'bodylng the invention andsliowingvfeatures ofv theinvention adapting it for use as a tail ylightand for illuminating the automobile number" tag. f

Figf is a central vertical section through the structure shown in Fig.4, some parts being shown in elevation.

Fig. 6 is an elevation of the invention as vap-plied Vto a spot-lightand in extendedfpo- `sition on a supporting arm;v i

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the structure showny in Fig. 6 with thespot-light folded back toward the vehicle inl order to utilize arear-view mirror carried by the spot-light casing. v

- Fig. 8 is arear elevation of the spot-light structure as seen in Fig.`7.v

Fig. ..9- fis a section on the line' 9-9 of Fig. 10 isan elevation ofthe spot-light side of theV structure shown inFig. 6, but` omitting thesupporting arm.

Figa@ 11 is an elevation of the directionv signal 'side of a combinationspot-light and signaling structure with a round casing.

Fig. 12 is an elevation of the spot-light side of the same structure.

Fig. 13 is a detail section showing a catch structure for detachablyholding parts of the device together.

FFig. 14 is asection on the line 111-14 of Referring to the drawings,and more particularly to Figs. 4, 5, 9 and 13, there is shown a body 0rcasing l of generally rectangular shape,A such casing also appearing insome of thevother views, as for Instance, v

in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 6,7 and 8. Two opposite corners of the. casing are cut0E 'or trun. cated, as indicated lat 2and 3 in the struc#` ture shown inFigs. 1 and 4, although, except.

' then be removed yfrom the casing .to expose' interior parts ofthelatterrfor inspection.

' re airs, or replacing of parts. =j

xtending along the two sidesof the coverv plate-terminating at thecorner 4 is aV- shaped slot 11, and extending alongthe two sides of thecover plate meeting at the c'or'f.

for appearance, the corner 2 in Figs. 1 and 4 need not be cut off.Moreover, and this is also for a pearance, the other corners 4 and 5 mayev rounded, as best shown in 1 and 4.

, he casing 1 is vprovided with a cover p. yplate 6 conforming -ingeneral outline to the shape of the casing. This cover plate is iprovided with a marginal flange 7 of suitable size and shape to snuglyfit into the body 1 and at opposite' sides has catch fin-pY 4'gers 8,each terminating in a hook plrojection 9 to'extend through a slot 10 int e side` of the casing so that when the hook ends y9 are 'engaged withthe.. casing the cover isvli'eld lace. By pressing inwardly on the hookf db 9 they may be pushed back suiciently 'en n to'release the coverplate and the latter may ner 5 is another V-sha ed slot 12, the apicesofthe two slots being '1n the diagonal of the g' cover plate terminatingat the two cornersl 4 and 5, .while the adjacent ends of the two slotsapproach the corners 2l and 3 until in close' spaced relation. Extendingthrough.

the cover plate 6 in the diagonalof the corners 4 and5 is an elongatedslot. 13 with' ortion of the cover plate between each.. end oftheslot 13and the slots 11 and 12 the enlarged into rounded contour, as indicatedvat 14, each art 14l being of sufcient size to hide an dlectric lightbulb 15. or .16, as the case may be, placed within the casing back ofthe cover 6.

Immediately back of the cover plate there is located a sheet 17 of lighttransmitting material, such, for instance, as glass, and as v'such glassSheet 1s to transmit cautlonary or'warning light it may be red. glass,such color bein universally recognized as a warnin co or. .l

Within the casing at a suitable distance back of the glass plate 17, inspaced relation thereto, is a plate 18, best shown -in-Fig. 5 but alsoappearing in Figs. 4 and 9. The'.

plate 18 carries webs or artitions 19, 20' arranged in alinement witcient length to interpose between the adjacent ends ofthe slots 11 and12 through the cover plate 16. The partitions 19 and 20 also serve asspacers for the plate 18 and hold the plate 17 firmly against the innerface of the cover 6. The holding effector the plate 18 is brought aboutby a spring 21 between the plate 18 and the rear wall 22 of .through theslot 13.

- substantially horizontallyi and closel proachedV at `the ends'bythearrow s aped each othervin the diagonal ofthe corners 2 and 3 and ofsuiiithe casing 1in the structure shown .in Figs.

V4 and 5. In Fig. 9, however, aspring 21` `'serves a similary purposebut is somewhat` differently' arranged, since the structure of Fig. 9-is'fa combination structure of direction signaling and spot-lightdevices.

Extending lengthwise ,of they slotl1-3 on opposite sidesthereof are websorI partitions 23, 24 respectively, of awidth .toreach from j the plate18 to the glass plate 1 7.` The plate 18 is-alsoprovided "with 'a' slot25somewhat wider Ythan `-and backfof the slot '13; Projecting -intothecasing from the` plate 18I along one edge of the slot 25,say that edgehaving the `web 23,*risanother artition or so.V

positioned as to illuminatethe reflecting suraceof'the ,web or partition26 and directthe reflectedl light `through thes'lot 25 land out throughthe slot 13 with the emitted light appearing red because of the redgla'plate v Y 1. The electric light bulb or lamp 27 isV so vpositionedas to be about midway of the length [of the slot 13` andout of directviewthrough said slot so that an observer will merely see any elongatedbband, of li ht his and oflig ing,l in the Vconstruction shown, arrangedslots 11 'and 12.v --Light from the lamp is utilized continuously, at,night, for tail p lightl purposes. This `Alight isv prevented fromspreadingtowardthe top and Vbottom and so reaching the slots 11 and 12,by the" '.webs23'and 24 forming -achannel or alley lengthwise and4backofthe s lot- 13.` The i ,web or partition 24 is set somewhat belowthelower edge of the slot 13 and the web has 'end portions 29 `slaiitingupwardly to the ht e- I. i

lower margin of the slot -13 so as to cut off spreadof light from thebulb 27 yto the slots 11 and 12.

Light from the illuminating 'elements-"or bulbs 15 or 16 will ndits wayback of the slots 11 or 12in accordance'withvv which of I the two bulbsis energized. Back of the [apex portion of each arrow shaped slot 11 and12 thereis cut out ofthe plate 18 a flap v30 extending in the vsamedirection as the length of the slotv 13 and lof like width.v

This flap 30 is bent at a slight angle toward the front of the casing asshown in Fig. 9, and because of such advance position of the flap itreceives illumination from the bulb 15 or- 16 at the other side of thecasing,

lwhereby when a bulb, say the bulb 15, is energized, not only is theslot 11 illuminated but there' is a line of illumination into the prolonslotv 12 on the other side by light travelin from the bulb 15 along thealley or channe between the webs 23 and 24, with such light augmented bythe reflected li ht from the bulb 27. The result is that't ere appearsto an observer behind the traveling automobile an arrow shaped index oflight pointing in the appropriate direction with the shaft of the arrowprolonged to a greater extent than the length of the slot 13, this ationbeing due to reflection of light from t e bent vflap 30 at the 'end ofthe shaft of the arrow remote from the head of the arrow.

A structure such as so far described may be conveniently located on oneof the rear wheel guards 31 of an automobile, such as indicated at 32 inFig. 1, with the direction si nal above a number plate 33 as shown inFig. 1. It is quite common to mount an extra tire 34 onan automobilewith the tire supported on a carrier 35 fast to the rear of theautomobile body, and then the direction signal casing 1 -is placed toone side of the number plate 33, which -latter is located within thecarrier 35. Under such circumstances the truncated corners .2 and 3 neednot be provided. The arrangement just described is shown in Fig. 2.

When the signal device is to ybe ap hed to an automobile alreadysupplied vwit a tail,

f light, as shown at 36 in Fig. 3, which tail light serves as anilluminating means for the number plate 33, the direction signal may bemounted sufficientlyhigh up on the vehicle to be within easy reach ofthe op-` erator of the vehicle and may then'be combined with aspot-light, as indicated in the arrangements shown in Figs.'7 to 14inclusive. Under such circumstances a casing 1 is provided, and suchcasing may be square in outline, as shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 10, or

may be round, as shown at` 1b in'Figs. l11

and 12. In Figs. 6, 7 'and 9l there is a. cover plate 6a which may beconsideredas in one ofthe casing, while` a'- plug rim 37 serves as aclosure for the 'other-` end of the casing. The rim 37 has a cut out` 38backed up by a cover glass 39 which may v be a plain glass cover orotherwise. Pressed against the .cover glass 39 by the spring 21 piecewith the body l and holding such cover glass properly seated is areflector 40 with a cushion ring 41 at its margin, which serves also toexclude dust from the interior of they reflector. Within the reflectorthere is mounted an electric lamp bulb 42 seated in a suitable socket 43of which no special description is needed.

Fast to the casing 1a or 1"` as the case may be, is a bracket 44projecting through the walls of the casing from the interior to theexterior thereof and terminating in a ball 45. Embracing the ball endofthe bracket is a clamp 46 on one end of an arm 47 of suitable length andat the other end proable for attachment to a post 49, such as isemployed in automobiles. No particular de-y scription is needed withrespect'to the clamp 48, since clamps'of like character are'to be foundupon the market. With a supporting arm, such as shown more 'particularlyin Figs. 6, 7 and 9, a combined spot-light and direction signal may bemounted on the vehicle in a manner similar to 'the `showing of Fig. 3,so that the spot-light will project a beam forwardly and the directions`ignal will be visible to any one back of the vehicle, whereby theoperator of the vehicle is not only enabled to illuminate the roadforwardly of the automobile but may apprise any person to the rear of anintended change of course. y l

The ball and socket joint permits the turning of the casing about anaxis diagonal of the casing and also the casing may be turned about theball and socket joint until a portion of the casing forming a side wallconsiderable size may be employed and such. mlrror, because yof its,size, may be a plain mirror.l When'fthe casing 1b, as shown in 'Figs 11and 12, is a cylindrical casing -then a smaller mirror 51 may be usedand, las is customary with small mirrors, may be fof the reducing type.to .mirrorto show a large eld. In Figs. 5' and 6 electric conductors 52`are shown, these ermit` the small conductors being connected to thelamps in The Ispot-light :portion of the invention need not differ inoperation from other spotlights. When the device is used as a. tailtinuously, therefore displaying a relatively "narrow elongated lighttoward the rear of the vehicle so as to be utilized as a tail light.'When, however, it is desired to indicate -toward the rear apropo'sedchange in the course of the vehicle an appropriate one of the bulbs 15and 16 is energized, thereby illuminating the Vsliaped opening 11 or 12and displaying an arrowshaped light which, because the source ofillumination is hidden, is free from any glare and therefore clear.Furthermore. the band of light corresponding to the shaft of the arrowis somewhat elongated because of the illumination of the flap 30^at theend of the shaft remote from the arrow head, the slight angular positionof th'e/ flap 30 contributing to 4between the spot-light face and thedirec-l `l vthe casing, but'itis unnecessary to describe these featuresin detail.

to be retracted w it provides a centrifugal gun which is compact or ofcomparatively small dimensions and is therefore readily portable andeasily handled for field or trench work. The construction also ensuresease of motion of the impeller, with a minimum of friction and heating,owing to the fact that it is arranged so as to be effectually balanced,as well as to be lubricated or mounted upon anti-friction bearings ifdesired, so that frictional contact between surfaces is reduced to ahighly desirable degree.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim 1. In a dirigible gun,a barrel, a rotary impeller provided with a feed pocket and a conductorcommunicating therewith, a detent controlling the feed of projectiles tosaid pocket, a trackway concentric with said impeller, a bulged portionin said trackway, and a wheel connected to said detent and bearing uponsaid trackway.

2. In adirigible gun, a rotary impeller having a conductor forprojectiles, a pair of detents arranged in the walls of said impellerand having their inner ends normally disposed in the path of projectilesin said conductor,- trackways arranged concentric with said impeller,grooved wheels on the outer ends of said detents and engaged with saidtrackwa s, and offset portions on said trackways, w ereb the detentswill be caused hen the wheels arrive in contact with said portions.

3. In a shouldered firearm, a barrel having a bore, a circular casingdepending from an intermediate portion of the firearm, a rotarycentrifugal impeller journalled in said casing and having an axial inletand a peripheral outlet, and means for intermittently dischargingprojectiles from the outlet of said impeller, the bore of said barrelbeing tangential to the periphery of said impeller and receivingprojectiles discharged from the outlet thereof.

4. In a shouldered firearm, a barrel having a bore, a circular casingdepending from an intermediate portion of the firearm, a rotaryVcentrifugal impeller journalled in said casing and having an axial inletand peripheral outlet, means for supplying projectiles to the axialinlet of said lrnpeller, means for intermittently dischargingprojectiles from the outlet of said impeller, and means for rotatingsaid impeller, the bore of said barrel being tangentlal to the peripheryof said impeller and receiving projectiles discharged from the outletthereof.

5. In a shouldered firearm, a barrel having a bore, a circular casingdepending from an intermediate portion of the firearm, a rotarycentrifugal impeller journalled in said casing and having an axial'inlet and peripheral outlet, means for supplying projectiles to theaxial inlet of said impeller, automatic means for i charging projectilesfrom. the outlet of said impeller, and means for rotating said impeller,the bore of said barrel being tangential to the periphery of saidimpeller and receiving projectiles discharged from the outlet thereof.

6. In a firearm, a barrel having a bore, a casing depending from anintermediate portion of the firearm, a rotary impeller within saidcasing and having a feed pocket .and a conductor communicatingtherewith, the

bore of said barrel being tangential to the periphery of said impeller,a detent controlling the feed of projectiles to said pocket, a trackwayconcentric'with said impeller, a bulged 'portion in said trackway, and awheel connected to said detent and bearing upon said trackway.

7. In a firearm, a shouldered stock, a barrel connecting said stock andhaving a bore, a casing depending from an intermediate portion of thefirearm, a rotary impeller within said casing and having an axial inletand a peripheral outlet, the bore of said barrel being tangential to theperiphery of said impeller, a detent for controlling the feed ofprojectiles to the axial inlet of said impeller, a trackway concentricwith said impeller, abulged portion in said trackway, and a wheelconnected to said detent and bearing upon said track-way.

8. A shouldered firearm comprising a butt portion, a barrel portion andan intermediate portion connecting the butt and barrell portions, acircular casing depending from said vintermediate portion andcommunicating with the bore of said barrel portieri, the horizontaldiameter of said circular casing being disposed in a 'plane parallel tothe longitudinal axis of the firearm, the vertical side walls of saidcasing being spaced apart to a width less than the width of saidintermediate portion, and a centrifugal impeller within said casing fordischarging projectiles through the bore of said barrel.

9. A shouldered firearm comprising a butt portion, a barrel portion andan intermediate portion connecting the butt and barrel portions, acircular casing depending from said intermediate portion and having itshorizontal diameter disposed in a plane parallel to the longitudinalaxis of the firearm, said intermediate portion having a bore connectingthe bore of Said barrel portion with said casing, said casing having itsvertical side walls spaced apart to a width less than the width of saidintermediate portion. and a intermittently disv rotary centrifugalimpeller journaled in said backed up by reflecting means for directinglight through the opening in the second-l named plate'and thence throughthe diago diate opening located between the ends thereof and the otherlight-giving units each located lbetween the end of a respective' one ofthe first-named openings and the adjacent end of the second-namedopening.

A direction signaling device for vehicles comprising a casing, withoppositely disposed light-emitting openings shaped to indicatedirection, and an intermediatev light emitting opening common to andspaced from the firstmamed openings for joint use with either, and liht-giving units for the several openings, with that for the intermediateopening located between the ends thereof and the other` light-givingunits each located between the end of arespective one of the first-namedopenings and Y vthe adjacent end of the second-named opening, saidcasing having' means for shielding each light giving unit froml directview through the light-emitting openings, whereby glare and confusion ofindications is avoided.

9. A directionl signaling device for vehicles comprising a casing with acover por-` tion having opposed' direction indicating light-emittingopenings and another light-l emitting opening between and common to thefirst-named openings for association with either of said first-namedopenings to form a pointer, said second-named opening stopping short ofvthe first-named openings -where approaching them, light-emitting unitslocated back of the cover member between the ends of the second-namedopening and the adjacent portions of the firstnamed openin s, a plate orwall within the casing back o the light-emitting units and provided withan opening therethrough back of the second-named opening and providedwith a reflector back of the secondnamed opening, and a light-givingunit back of the plate or wall to one side of the opening therethrough,whereby light from the last-named light-giving unit is directed by thereflector through the second-named opening and light from thefirst-named light-giving units is directed through onel or the other ofthe lirstsnamed openings in accordance with which one of thelight-giving units is energized, whereby the secondnamed opening may beilluminated orthe secondsnamed opening and either of the first-namedopenings may be illuminated together.

10. A direction signaling device for vehicles comprising a casing havinga'cover portion with a pair of opposed openings therethrough shaped forpointing purposes and an intermediately positioned elongated openingbetween the first-named openings to coact with' either of thefirst-named openings to simulate an arrow, a plate within the casingback of and spaced from the cover member, light-giving units between theplate and cover member for illuminating the first-named openings and`hidden from direct view by the cover member, webs located on oppositesides of the intermediate opening and between the adjacent ends of thefirst-named openings to prevent transmission of light from onelight-giving unit to the opposite light-emitting opening, and anotherlight-emitting opening back of the vplate andlocated to one side of thesecondnamed opening, said plate having an opening therethrough matchingthe secondnamed opening and intermediate of the length thereof andpositioned to reflect light from the last-named light-giving unitthrough the second-named opening in the cover member. 4

11. A- direction signaling device for vehilclescomprising a casinghaving a cover portion with a pair of opposed openings therethroughshaped for pointing purposes and an intermediately lpositioned elongatedopening between the rst-named openings to coact with either of thefirst-named openings to simulate an arrow, a'plate within the casingback of and spaced from the vcover member, light-giving units betweenthe plate and covermember forilluminating the first-named openingsl andhidden from direct view by the' cover member, webs located on-.opposi'tesides of the intermediate opening and between the adjacent ends of thevfirst-named openings to prevent transmission of light fromv onelight-giving unit to the Vopposite light-emitting opening,

and another' light-emitting openin back `wf the plate and located to onesi e ,of the second-named opening, said plate having an openingtherethrough matching the second-named opening an intermediate of thelength thereof and positioned to rei-lect light from the last-namedlight-giving unit through the second-named opening in the cover member,the plate having portions behind the first-named openings and in linewith the second-named opening bent toward the cover to serve asreflectors, whereby when one of the first-named light-giving units andthe second-named light-giving units are energized the apparent length ofthe second-named light-emitting opening is prolonged into that one ofthe first-named light-emitting openings remote from the li ht-givingunit illuminating the other one o? the first-named light-emittingopenings.

12. A direction signaling device for vehicle's comprising a casing witha cover havino` a pair of oppositely directed light-emittlng openingsshaped for indicating purposes and a centralized elongatedlight-emitting opening common to the first-named openings, a platewithin the casing back of and spaced from the cover, a lighttransmitting pane back of and adjacent to the cover to close theopenings through the latter, webs on the backing plate within the casingon opposite sides of the second-named opening and between the adjacentportions of the firstnamed openings, the plate also having a passagetherethrough back of the secondnamed opening and a reflector back of thepassage, and light-giving units between the cover member and backingplate and also to the rear of the backing plate adjacent to thereflector and all hidden from direct view through the openings in thecover member.

13. A direction signaling device for vehicles comprising a casing with acover having a pair of oppositely directed light-emitting openingsshaped for indicating purposes and a centralized elongatedlight-emitting opening common to the first-named openings, a platewithin the casing back of and spaced from the cover, a lighttransmitting pane back of and adjacent to the cover to close theopenings through the latter, webs on the backing plate within the casingon opposite sides of the second-A named opening and between the adjacentportions of the first-named openings, the passage therethrough back ofthe second-named opening and a reflector back of the passage, andlight-giving units between the lcover member and backing plate and alsoto the rear of the backing plate adjacent to `l-the reflector and allhidden from direct view through the openings in the cover member, saidbacking plate having a flap back of each of the first- 1 which theopenings along a line intersecting the apices i .Y

of the angular openings .and spaced at the ends therefrom.

15. Signal means for use on vehicles comprising a casing, a mounting forthe casing about which the latter may be moved at will in variousdirections, a spot-light at and occupying substantially one face of thecasing, and a combined tail-light and'direction-indicating meansoccupying substantially the opposite face of the casing.

16. Signal means for vehicles comprising a casing, a mounting for thecasing about various directions, means at and occupying one face of thecasing for projecting a beam of light for useas a lspot-li ht, and meansat and occupying the face o? the casing remote from the spot-light forproducing an intermediately located elongated beam of 1i ht to serve asa tail-light and other beams of,7 light coactively related to thetail-light to point in opposite directions, whereby the tail-light beamand either one of the lights at the ends of the tail-light beamconstitute pointers to indicate an intended change in the course oftravel away from the direct course of travel, the spot-light anddirectionsignal lights forming a single unit.

In testimoiy that I claim the foregoing as my own, have hereto affixedmy signature.

HERBERT W. BROWN.

Witnesses:

J. C. FREN'rz, l ANDREW MxLLER.

latter may be moved at will in

